Method for producing metallic wheels



Nov. 30, 1937.

J. T. TRUMBLE 7 METHOD FOR PRODUCING METALLIC WHEELS File d Sp't. lO, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Jab/7 Z Trumb/e CM R; 7

m5 ATTORNEY.

Nov. 30, 1937.

J. T. TRUMBLE METHOD FOR PRODUCING METALLIC WHEELS Filed Sept. 10, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Trumb/e (1mm R. 1.1

ms ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 30, 1937 I a UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE John '1'. Trumble, Detroit, Mich.

- Application September 10, 1932, Serial No. 632,505

15 Claims. (01. 29-159.)

The present invention relates to a method for of suitable length, width and thickness is cut out producing metallic wheels and more particularly along each of its opposite sides as indicated at. M to a method for producing a unitary metallic in Figure II to provide scallops. The strip i2 as spoke spider for wheels. The present applica-' illustrated. in Figures I and II is of a suitable 5 tion is a continuation in part of my earlier applisize from which to form the spoke spider l havcation, Serial Number 582,286, filed December 21, ing eight spoke members as indicated in Figure V. 1931. I After the strip of' metal I! has been scalloped as The principal object oi. the present invention just described, it is fed into a die drawing ma: is the provision of a method for producing a chine, not shown, adapted to successively drawwheel spoke spider wherein a plurality of tubular eight protuberances l5 from the area indicated 10 spoke members are pressed out of a strip of sheet by the dotted lines II in Figure II. The prometal and the strip bent into hoop formation tuberances ii are preferably drawn one at a with the spoke members extending radially theretime since metal is drawn from all sides in formfrom. ing these protuberances. Laterally movable dies Another object of the inventionis the provision may be used,-however, whereby all of the pro- 1 of a method for producing a wheel spoke spider tuberances I! are drawn simultaneously. It will wherein a plurality of connected spokes are so be observed that the areas deflned'by the dotted spaced apart that the diameter of the wheel emlines H, from which the protuberances II are bodying the said spokes may be varied one unit of drawn, are located midway between pairs of the length by adding or eliminating one spoke in the cut out portions I4 nd in the nt r-0i the spider formation. scalloped portions on opposite sides of the strip ii.

The exact nature and specific objects of the in- Where the cut out portions H are suitably ervention will more fully appear in the following ran ed and o sufl cie t e callops addescription taken in connection with the accom- .i -ee the areas flem which the p h fl panying drawings, in which: 15 are formed will be utilized in the first drawing .25

Figure I is a plan view of a blank strip of Opera i n n h r f r the edges f the Strip metal utilized for producing a spoke spider in i2 will form straight lines as indicated in accordance with the present invention. Fi u e IV- Figure 11 is a plan view of the strip shown in After eight protuberances I! have been formed Figure I after beingprepared for the first die in the al Strip h ip is fed to a second 30 drawing operation. I die drawing machine adapted to simultaneously Figure III is a sectional 'view illustrating the 'shape and size the protuberances II as indicated various die drawing operations performed upon at "IS in Figures 111 and IV. Thereafter the strip th strip shown in Figure I and n, is fed successively to other die drawing machines, Figure IV is a top plan view of the structure which shape nd size the protuberances I! as. illustrated in Figure 111.- indicated at l1, l8, i9, 20 and 2| in Figures 111 Figure V is a, side view in elevation of e, and IV. At the time the last-operation, which complete spoke spider produced in accordance n is s in pi n iliing the spoke with the present invention. performed the base of the spoke including the Figure VI is a partial cross sectional view of a adjacent portion of the flat strip of metal II is 40 completed wheel embodying the spoke spider formed to the arc of the Comp eted Spo Spider,

shown in Figure V, and as indicated at 22.

Figure VII is a partial side view in elevation of The strip of metal I! consistingof eight spoke the wheel shown in Figure VI. members 2| with their bases curved as indicated The spoke spider l0 illustrated in Figure V at 22, all of which is shown in Figure III, is comprises a plurality of radially extending hollow bent into hoop formation, as indicated in Figspoke members 2| closed atrtheir outer extremiure V. In forming thespoke spider I I from the ties and all integrally connected at their base to a strip of metal I! including the spoke members metallic strip l2 which is secured in the hoop 2|, all of the bending, or the shaping, of the strip formation shown by welding the opposite extremioccurs between the spoke members 2| in the area ties thereof together along the line l3. Any other indicated at 23 in Figures III and IV. In this means desired may be utilized for securing the manner the spoke members 2| are not in any way strip I! in the desired formation. distorted at the time the strip is bent into the v In accordance with the preferred method of hoop formation shown'in Figure V. producing the spoke spider It, a strip of metal I! The opposite ends 24 of the strip 01' metal I! are preferably secured together after the strip has been bent into hoop formation by welding the same as indicated at I 3. The completed spoke spider II) is assembled in a wheel structure in a manner which will be described presently.

In addition to the preferred method just described for producing the spoke spider ID the same may be produced in the following manner: The sheet metal utilized in forming the spoke spider may be supplied in rolls or strips longer than the strips |2 shown in Figures I and 11. Where this method is utilized the strip of metal is fed to a die drawing machine, not shown, equipped with a series of aligned dies each adapted to produce one of the protuberances shown at l5 to 2| inclusive. As the strip is fed to the machine the first die forms the protuberance IS. The strip is then advanced to the next die which forms the protuberance l6 from the protuberance I5. The process is repeated with each of the other dies successively. All of the dies may be operated simultaneously to produce their respective formation. In this manner the metal strip is fed continuously to the machine whereby to produce any desired number of spokes 2| all connected together. The strips of completed spokes may be of any length desired and may be cut into sections to form spoke spiders of the required size by bending the same into hoop formation as previously described.

Where the spoke members 2| are drawn from the metal l2 in the manner Just described, or as previously described, the spokes 2| are preferably spaced 3.1416 inches apart whereby the diameter of the completed spoke spider may be varied one or more inches by adding or eliminating one or more spoke members. While in spokes for vehicle wheels the spacing of the spokes would generally be measured in inches, it should be understood that the same result would be obtained by using 3.1416 units of any linear measure desired. This spacing of the spokes is accomplished by properly positioning the dies utilized in drawing the protuberances IE to 2| inclusive.

While, as shown in Figures HI and IV, seven separate die drawing, shaping and sizing operations are utilized in forming the spoke members 2|, it should be understood that any suitable number of operations may be utilized depending upon the size and shape of spoke desired; although it has been vfound that the best results are obtained by utilizing the number specified. m.

After the spoke spider III has been formed by either of the methods heretofore described, the edges of the strip of metal i2 are preferably flanged as indicated at 25 and 26 in Figure VI. This flanging operation may be performed, if

desired, before the strip is bent into hoop formation. I

Thereafter a rim 21 is seated upon the ends of the spoke members 2| and secured in that .position by means of rivets 28 extending through the closed outer extremity of the spokes 2| and the base of the rim 21.

A hub attaching flange 29 issecured to the strip of metal l2 at the base of the spokes 2| after the rim has been secured to the spoke ends. The hub attaching flange is preferably welded to the flange 25 and the axially extending portion of the flange 26 whereby to close the opening into the interior of the spokes 2|. In this manner dirt and moisture are prevented from entering the interior of the spokes. The innermost extremity of the flange 26 forms a circular opening'to which a conventional hub cap 30 provided with securing means 3| is removably attached. Suitable openings 32 are formed in the hub attaching flange 29 whereby the same may be connected to a hub 33 by means of conventional securing bolts 34. A brake drum 35 is preferably secured to the hub 33 by means of the securing bolts 34.-

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this invention provides a simple and inexpensive method of producing a durable wheel of light weight embodying a unitary spoke spider formed from a single sheet of metal. While only the preferred forms of the invention have been shown and described it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these forms but is coextensive with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of producing a unitary spoke spider for vehicle wheels from a single strip of sheet metal which comprises die drawing the metal at spaced intervals to form a plurality of hollow elongated spoke members closed at their outer extremities, bending the strip into hoop form with the spoke members extending radially therefrom, and securing the adjacent ends of the strip of metal together whereby to preserve the hoop formation thereof. a

2. The method of producing a spoke spide for vehicle wheels from sheet metal which comprises die drawing the metal to form a plurality of equally spaced complete hollow spokemembers, cutting the sheet metal containing the hollow spoke members to the desired length and width, bending the strip of metal thus formed into hoop formation, and securing the ends of the strip together whereby to preserve the hoop formation thereof.

3. The method of producing a unitary spoke spider for vehicle wheels from a single strip of sheet metal which comprises die drawing the metal to form a plurality of equally spaced apart and aligned hollow spoke members, bending the strip into hoop formation with the spoke members extending outwardly along radial lines, and securing the strip in the said hoop formation.

4. The method of producing a spoke spider from sheet metal which comprises die drawing the metal at spaced intervals to form a plurality of cylindrical spoke projections, elongating and shaping the said projections in additional dies to form spokes of the desired shape and size, and bending the metal containing the spokes into hoop formation.

5. The method of producing a spoke spider from'a strip of sheet metal which comprises forming a plurality of aligned and spaced apart cylindrical projections in the metal by simultaneous die drawing operations, shaping and elongating each of the said projections simultaneously by a series of additional die operations, to form spokes of the desired shape and size, bending the strip into hoop formation, and securing the strip in said hoop formation.

6. The method of producing a unitary spoke spider for vehicle wheels from a single strip of metal which comprises die drawing from a strip of metal a plurality of spoke projections having closed outer extremities adapted to be attached to a rim, and bending the strip into hoop' formation with the spokes extending radially outward. 76

'7. The method of producing a spoke spider from a strip of metal which comprises die drawing a plurality of spaced apart spoke projections .from the metal, shaping the metal at the base of the spoke to the arc of the completed spoke spider, and bending the metal between the spokes whereby the said are portions form a continuous cylinder.

8. The method of producing a spoke spider from a strip of metal which comprises die drawing a plurality of spaced apart spoke projections from the metal, shaping and elongating the projections to form spokes of the desired shape and size, shaping the base of the spokes simultaneously with the last mentioned operation to the arc of the completed spoke spider, and bending the metal between the spokes whereby the having a cylindrical nave construction which said arc portions form a continuous cylinder.

9. The method of producing a spoke spider for assembly in a vehicle wheel from a single sheet of metal which comprises forming a plurality of spaced apart spoke projections in the metal, bending the strip of metal into hoop formation with the spokes extending radially outward, and forming 'an inwardly turned flange at one side of the metal strip.

10. The method of producing a spoke spider comprises die drawing a flat strip of metal to form a plurality of spaced apart. spoke projections, bending the strip into cylindrical formation with the spokes projecting radially outward, and bending one edge of the strip to'form a radially extending flange.

11. The method of producing 9. spoke spider from sheet metal which comprises die drawing the metal at spaced intervals to form a plurality of cylindrical projections, shaping and elongating said projections by successive die drawing operations to form complete spokes, and bending the metal from which the spokes project into hoop formation.

12. In the method of producing a spoke spider for vehicle wheels the steps comprising, die drawing a sheet of metal at spaced intervals to form a plurality of hollow elongated spoke members closed at their outer ends, and bending the sheet thus formed into arcuate form with the spoke members extending radially outwardly therefrom.

13. The method of forming a one-piece sheet metal artillery wheel part including spokes integrally joined at corresponding ends, which method comprises striking the spoke portions to extend transversely from the blank sheet and bending the sheet to place the spokes in operative position.

14. The method of forming a one-piece sheet metal artillery wheel part including spokes of hollow section integrally joined at corresponding ends, which method comprises simultaneously pre-forming the blank to shape the spokes and to place themin inoperative position on the thus pre-formed blank and subsequently bending the blank to place the spokes in operative position.

15. The method of forming a one-piece sheet metal artillery wheel part which comprises simultaneously pre-forming the blank to provide tubular spokes and to place the spokes in inoperative position on the blank and subsequently bending the blank to place the spokes in operative position. JOHN T. 'I'RUMBLE. 

